About the exam
MRCPsych Paper A Exam structure
An independent study guide aligned to the current RCPsych Paper A syllabus, 2022 Core Psychiatry Curriculum crosswalk and June 2026 MRCPsych regulations.
Issuer and path
MRCPsych Paper A Study Guide is administered through Royal College of Psychiatrists. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
MRCPsych Paper A
150 scored + 0 pretest
One three-hour, 150-mark digital theory examination, delivered in three approximately 50-question parts and using approximately two-thirds five-option MCQ and one-third EMI.
Confirm the syllabus and delivery for your diet
Check the RCPsych preparation page, application calendar, current regulations and Pearson VUE instructions for your date, venue or OnVUE route, identity, equipment, adjustments and whether the January 2027 syllabus has taken effect.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioural Science and Socio-cultural Psychiatry (25 marks) | 25 | 100 | 20 | Strong |
| Human Development (25 marks) | 25 | 100 | 25 | Strong |
| Basic Neurosciences (37 or 38 marks) | 37.5 | 151 | 40 | Strong |
| Clinical Psychopharmacology (37 or 38 marks) | 37.5 | 150 | 30 | Strong |
| Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry (25 marks) | 25 | 100 | 25 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to prepare for MRCPsych Paper A
Build mechanisms first, connect them to development and assessment, then practise distinguishing one best answer within SBA and extended-matching formats.
1. Identify the level
Decide whether the item tests definition, developmental process, cell or circuit mechanism, pharmacology, phenomenology, measurement or application.
2. Name the exact construct
Translate the stem into precise language before choosing among neighbouring theories, receptors, syndromes or examination findings.
3. Trace mechanism to consequence
Follow cause through process to the expected behavioural, physiological, pharmacological or clinical result.
4. Apply context and boundaries
Use development, culture, physical health, medicines, time course and the stated ICD or assessment framework.
5. Match the item form
For an MCQ, choose the single best of five. For an EMI, apply the shared theme, option list and lead-in consistently to each vignette.
6. Check the discriminator
Confirm why the chosen option fits better than the closest alternative, then commit because there is no negative marking.
Official Paper A blueprint
Balance five sections across 150 marks
Three sections carry 25 marks each; Neuroscience and Clinical Psychopharmacology carry 37 or 38 each.
Behavioural Science and Socio-cultural Psychiatry
Basic psychology, social psychology, social science and cultural context relevant to psychiatric understanding and practice. Official Paper A allocation: 16.67% (25 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Human Development
Developmental frameworks, methods and biological, psychological, relational and social development across the lifespan. Official Paper A allocation: 16.67% (25 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Basic Neurosciences
Methods, cells, signalling, anatomy, circuits, modulators, genetics, development, integrated neurobiology and degeneration. Official Paper A allocation: 25.00% (37 or 38 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Clinical Psychopharmacology
General principles, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safe, effective psychotropic therapeutics. Official Paper A allocation: 25.00% (37 or 38 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry
Classification systems, psychiatric history and mental state, psychopathology, physical factors, investigations, rating scales and risk. Official Paper A allocation: 16.67% (25 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Highest-weight science
Build from cells to integrated neurobiology
Methods, signalling, anatomy, circuits, modulators, genetics, development and degeneration form one connected quarter of the paper.
Basic Neurosciences
Methods, cells, signalling, anatomy, circuits, modulators, genetics, development, integrated neurobiology and degeneration. Official Paper A allocation: 25.00% (37 or 38 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Precise assessment
Describe before diagnosing
Classification, mental state, psychopathology, physical investigation, measurement and risk depend on exact definitions and context.
Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry
Classification systems, psychiatric history and mental state, psychopathology, physical factors, investigations, rating scales and risk. Official Paper A allocation: 16.67% (25 marks).
Choose a topic to open below
Learning, Perception, Memory and Thinking
Learning models, attention, perception, information processing, memory, reasoning and their relevance to symptoms and behavioural treatments.
Key rules
Rule 1
Learning theory spans classical, operant, observational and cognitive models; clinical application depends on distinguishing acquisition, reinforcement, extinction, generalisation and avoidance.
Exam cue: For a learning vignette, name the antecedent, behaviour, consequence and mechanism that maintains or changes it.
Rule 2
Perception, attention, information processing, memory and reasoning are active systems whose normal biases and failures help explain symptoms without by themselves establishing a diagnosis.
Exam cue: For a cognitive finding, separate encoding, storage and retrieval from attention, language and executive control.
Common traps
Calling every reduction in behaviour extinction when avoidance or negative reinforcement may be maintaining it.
Prevention: Do not select an option because it is merely associated or familiar; choose the one that answers the exact lead-in.
Equating a memory complaint with storage failure before checking attention, mood, retrieval and recognition.
Prevention: Do not select an option because it is merely associated or familiar; choose the one that answers the exact lead-in.
Memory anchors
What distinguishes negative reinforcement from punishment?
Negative reinforcement increases behaviour by removing an aversive consequence; punishment aims to reduce behaviour.
What is extinction in classical conditioning?
The conditioned response weakens when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
What three stages organise memory?
Encoding, storage and retrieval; impairment at any stage can produce an apparent memory problem.
Why can attention mimic memory failure?
Information that was not adequately attended to is poorly encoded and therefore unavailable for later recall.
What is a heuristic?
A rapid rule of thumb that reduces cognitive effort but can produce predictable bias or error.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
A child becomes frightened of every dog after being bitten by one Alsatian. Which learning process best explains fear spreading to other dogs?
During exposure therapy, anxiety falls after prolonged contact with a feared but safe stimulus. Which process most directly accounts for the within-session reduction?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
RCPsych: Preparing for Paper A
The current 150-question, three-hour format, MCQ and EMI mix, five syllabus sections, exact percentage split and 2027 syllabus transition.
RCPsych: Current syllabic curriculum
The live February 2021 syllabus PDF; Paper A is sections 1 to 5 and Paper B begins at section 6.
RCPsych: Preparation FAQs
The three-part delivery, within-part navigation, MCQ and EMI construction and current ICD-10/ICD-11 boundary.
RCPsych: Papers A and B marking scheme
Five-option SBA and EMI marking, no negative marking, modified Angoff criterion referencing and SEM adjustment.
RCPsych: Core Psychiatry Curriculum 2022
The current CT1–CT3 curriculum, including HLO 2.2 developmental, scientific, psychopharmacological and assessment capabilities.
RCPsych: 2022 curriculum documents
The GMC-approved 2022 curriculum set and the official list of nine HLOs and 16 themes.
RCPsych: MRCPsych examinations
The current examination hub and June 2026 regulations notice.
MRCPsych eligibility criteria and regulations
The 27 May 2026 rules for eligibility, paper order, attempts, six-year theory validity, Pearson VUE delivery and conduct.
RCPsych: Applying and examination dates
Current fees, application process, changeable 2026 diet dates and theory-validity information.
RCPsych: Online Paper A and B guidance
The current candidate guide to the Pearson VUE online assessment environment and technical preparation.
RCPsych: Exams reading list
The College reading-list entry point; use it alongside the current syllabus rather than as a replacement blueprint.
FAQ
Common MRCPsych Paper A questions
Is this an official Royal College of Psychiatrists resource?
No. This is an independent study guide. The current RCPsych syllabus, regulations, exam pages, candidate guidance and direct communications remain authoritative.
What does the mrcpsych-paper-a slug cover?
It covers MRCPsych Paper A only: sections 1 to 5 of the current syllabic curriculum. It does not include Paper B sections 6 to 14, the CASC, or the complete training and membership pathway.
Which Paper A syllabus is current in July 2026?
RCPsych directs candidates sitting examinations through the end of 2026 to continue using the current syllabus, whose live PDF is labelled last updated February 2021.
When does the revised syllabus take effect?
RCPsych plans to publish the revised Paper A and B syllabus in September 2026 and bring it into effect from January 2027. This guide records that boundary but does not apply an unpublished future syllabus to 2026 sittings.
What are the five current Paper A sections?
Behavioural Science and Socio-cultural Psychiatry; Human Development; Basic Neurosciences; Clinical Psychopharmacology; and Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry.
How are marks distributed?
Behavioural and socio-cultural psychiatry, Human Development, and Classification and Assessment each receive 25 marks. Basic Neurosciences and Clinical Psychopharmacology each receive 37 or 38 marks, giving 150 in total.
Why do the two 25% outline rows show 37.5?
It is the percentage-equivalent planning count for data and allocation. A live paper cannot contain half a mark: RCPsych publishes 37 or 38 marks for each, with the integer remainder assigned to one of the two domains.
How is the online examination divided?
It has three delivery parts of approximately 50 questions. Candidates can navigate within the current part, but once they complete it and take an optional comfort break, it locks and cannot be reopened.
How do MCQ and EMI formats differ?
An MCQ presents one stem and five options for a single best answer. An EMI set provides a theme, a longer ordered option list and a common lead-in, followed by several vignettes that each require the best option.
Is there negative marking?
No. Each correct response earns one mark and incorrect responses do not lose marks, so RCPsych advises attempting every question.
Is there a fixed pass percentage?
No fixed percentage is published in advance. RCPsych uses modified Angoff criterion referencing and applies two standard errors of measurement to the Angoff-derived mark before approval.
How does the 2022 Core Psychiatry Curriculum relate to Paper A?
The Core Curriculum has nine High Level Outcomes and 16 themes. Paper A's five science and assessment sections map most directly to HLO 2.2 Clinical skills, but the 2021 exam syllabus and the broader workplace curriculum are not identical and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Which ICD version should candidates know?
RCPsych states that ICD-11 knowledge may be examined and ICD-10 may also be examined while it remains in common use. Candidates should distinguish the system and edition used in a question.
Who may sit Paper A?
The current regulations require full registration as a medical practitioner after completion of Foundation year 1 or an internship year. Candidates outside UK or Irish registration routes should check the evidence requirements in the regulations.
Can Paper B be taken before Paper A?
Yes. Current regulations say the theory papers can be taken in any order, but Paper B has its own experience requirement and this module does not cover its syllabus.
Does passing Paper A confer MRCPsych membership?
No. Paper A is one component. Candidates must meet the current training requirements and complete Paper B and CASC, plus the College's membership process.
Are the 601 practice items an official number?
No. The live Paper A has 150 questions. This independent 601-item practice bank is allocated proportionally across the five official sections and contains original, non-recalled questions.
Does this guide provide a full mock?
No. The bank provides self-contained five-option single-best-answer practice, including short theme-based clinical vignettes, but a static bank does not reproduce shared EMI option sets, Pearson VUE delivery or the locked three-part workflow.